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Bosses’ pledge on troubled Carlisle central academy

Bosses at a troubled academy school say they don’t underestimate the challenge they face after inspectors said they weren’t doing enough to get out of special measures.

The latest monitoring report for Richard Rose Central in Carlisle found a catalogue of problems so serious that the school has been told it should not employ newly qualified teachers.

The latest monitoring inspection in early December was the second since the school was plunged into special measures amid concerns about what inspectors said was a “systematic weakness” in leadership.

In their latest report, inspectors note that the transfer to the school’s new sponsor, United Learning, has been delayed until April, though the work to turn the school around – including a management shake-up – is now well underway.

United Learning, however, insists progress is being made.

A spokeswoman said: “As our role in the academy moves forward, we are able to take a greater responsibility for its running.

“Since this monitoring visit [in December] Neil Hutchinson has been appointed headteacher and he has now taken up post.

“It took time to appoint the right person to lead Central because we understand the importance of this role for the future success of the school.

“While we do not underestimate the challenge ahead of us at Central, we are also confident that the actions that we are taking will achieve their intended outcomes and everyone in the academy is working hard to ensure this.”

Central Academy’s sister city secondary school, Richard Rose Morton, is also in special measures.